Card-support.



No. 892,850. PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

w. L. KEPLINGER.

CARD SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY13,1907.

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PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

W. L. KEPLINGER. CARD SUPPORT APPLICATION FILED MAY13, 1907.

-WITNESSES:2 5

130mm, ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. KEPLINGER, OF NEWTON, NEW JERSEY.

CARD-SUPPORT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. KEP- LINGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Sussex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card- Supports; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference, generally, to improvements in card supports; and, the invention relates, more particularly to a novel construction of card-support for the proper arrangement of the dummy hands in two-handed bridge-whist, or other game of cards.

This invention has for its principal object to provide a novel and simply constructed card-support for dummy hands in which the series of cards are arranged upon a supporting means in such a manner that none of the dummy cards of the one player are exposed to the view of the other player, so that the opponent cannot guess from the backs of the cards and by their arrangement upon the support, how many cards of a suit the other player may possibly have in the dummy. A further object of this invention is to provide a novel card-support which is made in the form of a box or case provided with hinged or pivoted cover-sections which can be folded down, so as to provide a closure for the box, when the support is not in use, and the device serving as a receptacle for the pack of cards, the scoring pad, pencil, etc.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the invention.

Withthe various objects of this invention in view, the same consists, primarily, in the novel card-support for dummy hands hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in a combined box or case and a card-support forming a part of said box or case.

The invention consists, furthermore, in the various arrangements and combinations of parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the same, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 13, 1907.

Patented July '7, 1908.

Serial No. 373,261.

finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is-clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my novel form of card-support, showing the coversections of the device in their normally closed positions; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the card-support, with the cover-sections in their open relation, when the device is used for the support of the dummy hands or cards in series upon a supporting means extending from the base of the box-like body of the device. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the card-support ready for use Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional representation of the same. Fig. 6 is a similar transverse section of a slightly modified construction of the card-support, said view showing the coversections in their closed relation.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates the complete card-support or device, the same comprising a suitably formed boxlike member or :section which consists, essentially, of a base or bottom 2, a pair of longitudinally extending portions or sides 3 and the laterally extending end-portions or members 4. Suitably secured and arranged against the inner faces of the end-members 4 are vertically extending pieces or strips 5 which form with said end-members 4 a laterally extending shoulder or off-set 6 within and at each end of the-said main box-like member or section, substantially as illustrated in the several figures of the drawings.

The reference-character 7 indicates a pair of lids or cover-sections, each lid or coversection being made with a longitudinally extending flange or extension 8 and a pair of laterally extending end-flanges or extensions 9, which latter flanges are preferably of a greater width than the width of the longitudinally extending flange 8, being provided at the corners 10 of the flanges 8 and 9 with the curved or arc-shaped edge-portions 11. Each lid or cover-section 7 is pivotally connected at its end flanges 9 with the respective end-members 4, by means of suitably constructed pivots, as 12, and when said lids or cover-sections 7 are turned down within the open portion of the main box-like member or body, then will the marginal edges 13 of said end-flanges or extensions 8 rest directly upon the respective-shoulders or off-sets 6 to provide a perfectly closed box or case, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. WVithin the said box-like mem'- ber or main body is suitably arranged and secured a card-supporting means or device which consists, essentially, of a centrally disposed'and longitudinally extending element or base 14, having at each edge a pair of angularly disposed and upwardly projecting members or elements 15 and 16, an angular and upwardly extending member or element 17 projecting from each element or member 16, and another angular and downwardly extending member or element 18 projecting from the upper edge of each element or member 17. These various parts are preferably all made from card-board, although any other suitable material, such as metal,

. celluloid, or the like, may be employed, and

they are preferably arranged in the manner illustrated in the several figures of the drawings, so that the hinged or pivoted lids or cover-sections 7, when raised in the manner illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings will have their marginal edges 19 brought in engagement with the faces of the respective downwardly extending elements or members 18, so that the said lids or coversections will be retained in their raised and angularly diverging relations, as clearly illus-,

- sections, and the parts comprising the sup porting means for the cards, may all be cov ered with a thin covering 20, of paper or any suitable material, so as to provide a neat and ornamental device.

evident.

When the lids or cover-sections are in their closed positions, then the device can be used in the manner of a box or casing in which the cards, score-cards, pencils and other paraphernalia are stored; but, when the lids or cover-sections have been brought into their raised relation, so as to open the box, then the device is in condition for the support ofthe series of cards comprising the two dummy hands. The cards, after having been dealt, are then placed with their lower edges resting against the respective elements or members 16 and their backs lying upon the elements or members 17, to provide two upwardly diverging series of cards, from which any card can be drawn by the players .cards have been arranged in their supported relations, none of the cards can be seen by the opposing player, the backs, as well as the faces, of all cards being hidden by said lids or cover-sections and their flanges. This is of great advantage with two players who are constantly opposed to each other, because it prevents the players noticing any marks or imperfections upon the backs of the cards or, after a time becoming accustomed to the manner in which the opposing player will arrange the various cards upon or against the supporting means.

From the foregoing description of my present invention it will be seen that I have devised a simply and neatly constructed card-support for dummy hands which is eflicient and has a great many advantages.

I claim 1. A card-support comprising a base pro vided with means for supporting cards thereon in upwardly-diverging series, and hinged elements constructed and arranged to hide both faces and backs of each series of cards from the opponent player.

2. A card-support comprising a box-like member, means within said member for supporting series of cards face to face, and means connected with said box-like member constructed and arranged to hide both faces and backs of each series of cards from the opponent player.

3. A card-support comprising a box-like member, means within said member for supporting series of cards face to face, and hinged elements constructed and arranged to hide both faces and backs of each series of cards from the opponent player.

4. A card-support comprising a box-like member, means within said member for supporting cards thereon in upwardlydiverging series, and hinged elements con structed andarranged to hide both faces and backs of each series of cards from the oppo- Ilent player.

5. A card-support comprising a box-like member provided with upwardly extending portions forming the sides and ends of said box-like member, means within said member for supporting series of cards face to face, and hinged cover-sections connected with some of said upwardly extending portions of the box-like member, said coversections being adapted to be folded to close said box-like member, and arranged and adapted to be retained in raised positions, each cover-section having flanges extending from its marginal edges, so as to hide both faces and backs 'of each series of cards from the opponent player.

6. The herein described card-sup ort comprising a box-like member provide with upwardly extending portions forming the sides and ends of said box-like member, a vertical strip arranged against the inner face of each end-member to form laterally extending shoulders, a pair of cover-sections pivotally connected with said ends, and downwardly extending end-flanges and a side-flange connected with each cover section, the endflanges resting upon the shoulders formed by said strips when said cover-sections are in their closed relations, and means within said box-like member for supporting series of cards face to face, when said cover-sections are in their raised positions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The herein described card-sup ort comprising a box-like member provider with upwardly extending portions forming the sides and ends of said box-like member, a vertical strip arranged against the inner face of each end member to form laterally extending shoulders, a pair of cover-sections pivotally connected with said ends, and downwardly extending end-flanges and a side-flange connected with each cover section, the endilanges resting upon the shoulders formed by said strips when said cover-sections are in their closed relations, and means within said box-like member for supporting series of cards face to face, when said cover-sections are in their raised positions, and means connected with said card supporting means with which each cover-section is adapted to be brought in retaining engagement for holding the cover-sections in their raised positions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. The herein described card-sup ort comprising a box-like member providecFwith upwardly extending portions forming the sides and ends of said box-like member, a vertical strip arranged against the inner face of each endmember to form laterally extending shoulders, a pair of cover-sections pivotally connected with said ends, and downwardly extending end-flanges and a side-flange connected with each cover section, the endfianges resting upon the shoulders'formed by said strips when said cover-sections are in their closed relations, and a card-supporting means within said box consisting of a centrally disposed base 14, two pairs of angular and upwardly extending members 15 and 16, and other pairs of angular and upwardly extending members 17 and 18, said members 16 and 17 serving as a support for the series of cards, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The herein described card-support comprising a box-like member provided with upwardly extending portions forming the sides and ends of said box-like member, a vertical strip arranged against the inner face of each end member to form laterally extending shoulders, a pair of cover-sections pivotally connected with said ends, and downwardly extending end-flanges and a side-flange con nected with each cover section, the endflanges resting upon the shoulders formed by said strips when said cover-sectionsare in their closed relations, and a card-supporting means within said box consisting of a centrally disposed base 14, two pairs of angular and u wardly extending members 15 and 16, anc other pairs of angular and upwardly extending members 17 and 18, said members 16 and 17 serving as a support for the series of cards, andsaidmembers 18 serving as a retaining means for the raised cover-sections for holdin them in their opened relation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May, 1907.

WILLIAM L. KEPLINGER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE I. MATTHEWS, CHARLIE S. STRAWVAY. 

